Kane stood there, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the object in Isha’s hand. It was a special piece of parchment with neatly trimmed edges and an extremely faint dark pattern on its surface.
He recognized it; that was high-grade paper used only by the Imperial nobility on formal occasions, typically for writing important letters or contract documents.
Some in the crowd noticed as well. The footsteps of those who were pushing their way out began to slow, then stopped, as people stood on tiptoe to look back.
Isha spread the parchment open and held it up in front of her.
On the paper was a section of handwritten text. The handwriting was elegant and upright, the phrasing concise and appropriate. It simply thanked the buyer for their support of Silver Sand Lake and wished them well, with a name written at the bottom.
Standing across the crowd, the moment Kane saw that name clearly, his breath hitched.
Alicia von Augustus.
Then he shifted his gaze below the name to a dark red royal seal—the seal of the Third Imperial Princess.
In an instant, the tone of the surrounding discussions changed.
“Is that... the Princess’s signature?”
“No way, is it really handwritten?”
“But that seal is real... I’ve seen similar ones in the heart of the Empire.”
At that moment, Isha spoke again, her tone slightly elevated as she introduced, “Anyone who purchases an Egg Ticket will not only receive ten Silver Sand Lake Eggs but also an additional handwritten thank-you letter from Her Imperial Highness.”
Finally, she added one last, crucial sentence: “It is a handwritten thank-you letter. Every single one of them is.”
Sure enough, in the next second, the crowd exploded.
“Handwritten? The Princess is writing them herself?”
“That is the Third Imperial Princess! That is royal blood!”
“If I had a letter personally written by her, I could brag about it for the rest of my life back in my hometown...”
“Are you stupid? Just taking that letter out would make those businessmen look at you with respect!”
Among the discussions, a subtle emotion was spreading. Those who were just cursing moments ago were now processing the information rapidly.
One gold coin for ten eggs plus a personal letter from the Princess... it didn't seem like a loss.
That was something written by a member of the royal family. Even if it was just a few polite words of thanks, seeing the seal and one's own name on it was a form of invisible power endorsement.
Furthermore, possessing such a letter meant having had a point of contact with the Princess.
For small and medium-sized merchants eager to climb the social ladder, noble retainers, or even adventurers looking to gild their reputations, the value far exceeded a single gold coin.
Kane stood in the crowd, his gaze fixed on that parchment for a long time. He could already sense what the people around him were thinking and knew what was about to happen.
“I want one!”
“Give me one too!”
“Don’t push! I was here first!”
The crowd surged, everyone beginning to push forward toward Isha. She raised her hand in a pressing-down gesture.
“Everyone, please stay calm. There is one more rule for today...”
She then held up five fingers. “Limited to five people per day. First come, first served.”
“Five people? Only five?”
“Then I won't get a turn today!”
“Stop talking and hurry up and push to the front!”
The crowd surged again, and the area in front of the shop became chaotic. Lena, standing behind Isha, took a step forward. Her tall frame blocked the way, and she assumed a posture to halt the advance.
“Line up! No sales to those who don’t line up!”
Her voice was cold and sharp, her imposing aura forcing those in the front row to stop and spontaneously form a crooked line.
The first to squeeze in front of Isha was a middle-aged man who looked like an adventurer. He was travel-worn, with a short axe hanging at his waist and a complex expression on his face.
He forcefully thrust a gold coin toward Isha, extending his other hand. “Here is the money! Give me the ticket! I want the eggs and the Princess’s thank-you letter!”
Isha didn't take the money immediately. She looked up at him and said calmly, “After purchasing the Egg Ticket, the eggs and the thank-you letter can only be collected in three days.”
The adventurer was stunned. “What? Three days?”
Isha explained simply, “Silver Sand Lake is some distance from here. Between sending the message and the Princess writing the letter to be sent back, it takes at least three days.”
The adventurer’s hand stiffened. He looked down at the gold coin in his hand, then at Isha, and hesitated.
A gold coin was not a small amount to him. If he couldn't get the items in three days... wouldn't this just be a scam?
His fingers began to pull back.
Just then, a gentle and steady voice came from the side. “Since this gentleman is hesitating, why not let me go first?”
An elegantly dressed man stepped out from the crowd. He looked to be around forty, wearing low-key but well-tailored clothes, exuding the composed air of a professional steward.
He walked up to Isha, took a gold coin from his coat, and handed it over formally. “I am purchasing an Egg Ticket on behalf of my master.”
Isha glanced at him, then scanned the people in line. Seeing no objections, she took the gold coin and handed over an exquisitely printed Egg Ticket. “May I ask your master’s name? Her Highness will specifically write your master’s name in the thank-you letter.”
The man’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. He took the Egg Ticket, leaned in slightly, and whispered a few words into Isha’s ear.
Isha’s eyebrows arched slightly as if surprised, but she quickly regained her composure and nodded. “Very well. You may come to collect it with this ticket in three days.”
The man bowed slightly and turned to leave. He walked through the crowd with a steady pace and joined a middle-aged man standing on the outskirts.
That middle-aged man was of average build with a mild face. He was looking down and saying something to the steward. There was no further conversation between them, but the steward naturally stepped to the side and behind the man in a respectful stance.
Isha caught a glimpse of them from a distance, the corners of her mouth curving into a very faint smile.
Mr. Leynas’s plan was off to a good start.
“Hey!”
The adventurer’s voice pulled her attention back. The fellow was still standing at the counter, his expression as conflicted as if he were constipated. “Are... are you still selling?”
Isha looked at him. Seeing he was still hesitant, she said bluntly, “If you aren't buying, please don't delay the people behind you.”
The adventurer pursed his lips tightly, his cheeks bulging and then deflating. Finally, as if making a grand resolution, he suddenly thrust his hand forward.
“Give me one!”
Isha took his gold coin and handed him an Egg Ticket. “Name?”
“Derrick!”
Derrick took the Egg Ticket and turned it over in his hands twice. His expression was incredibly complex—a mix of joy and worry, his face full of conflicted wrinkles.
“Next!”
The crowd surged once more.
Kane stood not far away, taking in the entire process. He had originally come just to take a look, but now his gaze had shifted from the noisy customers to Isha, who was surrounded by the crowd.
The person behind this young girl had planned this very deeply.
First, they built up hype until the whole city knew, then used an inflated price to create controversy and draw everyone's attention to the question of 'value.' Next, they used the Princess’s handwritten letter as an anchor, turning the act of buying from 'consumption' into 'investment.'
Finally, they added a daily limit, forcing those who were watching to act immediately.
Every step had a clear purpose and the rhythm was tight, leaving the audience little time to think.
What caught his attention even more was the steward who bought the ticket for his master. He recognized that face; he was the confidant of the Vice Chairman of the Windrest City Chamber of Commerce, an influential figure in the local business world.
That Vice Chairman never acted lightly, but his man had appeared here. This meant that at the very least, the other party had sensed the trend and decided to enter the fray as soon as possible.
Kane withdrew his gaze and looked toward the shop once more.
Golden Sea, Silver Sand Lake, the Third Imperial Princess, and that Egg Ticket.
This layout was larger than he had anticipated.
He turned and walked back the way he came, his steward following at his side, whispering a report on the situation.
After hearing it, Kane didn't stop his pace, only saying softly, “Send someone again tomorrow.”
“Buy one as well.”
Rate on N.U.
